Chef
On this page
- What's it like to be a Chef?
- How to become a Chef
- Latest Chef jobs
- Top skills and experience for Chefs
What's it like to be a Chef?
Chefs are professionally trained in food preparation. They often take on leadership roles in a kitchen to ensure that food is prepared to high standards and served on time. Chefs need to have great organisation and time management skills to be able to juggle multiple tasks effectively. Chefs also study trends in the food industry to evolve their skills.
Tasks and duties
- Budgeting costs while planning a menu.
- Coordinating with kitchen personnel and assisting them when required.
- Training other staff members to prepare and cook dishes.
- Checking inventory and stocks and ordering supplies whenever low.
- Making adjustments to the menu based on feedback and seasonal trends.
- Monitoring the quality of equipment and tools.
- Overseeing the kitchen and making sure that all staff are following health and safety procedures.
How to become a Chef
Formal education and relevant experience are usually required to become a Chef. Since you will be overseeing a group of people, you need to have in-depth knowledge and understanding of food service and preparation.
Consider building experience in an entry-level position. You can either start out as a dishwasher, server or a food-runner. These roles will give you an introduction to kitchen dynamics.
Prospective employers tend to hire candidates with a secondary school certificate or higher.
Undertake training in a culinary school. While you’re in culinary school, also consider taking an internship program or finding a professional mentor. Doing so will better equip you with more specific kitchen advice and skills.
